"When you can't live comfortably in your own home, that is the very definition of severe harm," he said.

Ms Bennic said she did not seek legal advice about the use of the holiday house because she did not believe it was unlawful.

"No, I did not seek legal advice in the way you said ... I spoke to the real estate agents and people in the industry because I believed they would have the advice and the experience," she said under cross examination.